Iron secure Royal upset

By Razwan Mirza

Last Updated: 07/08/10 5:42pm

Scunthorpe secured an impressive opening day win against Reading after Garry Thompson's controversial opening goal at the Madjeski Stadium.

Jonathan Forte's cross was slotted home by Thompson despite the assistant referee raising his flag for offside. However, referee Fred Graham allowed the goal to stand and waved away protests from the home side.

Gylfi Sigurdsson deservedly restored parity with an emphatic strike, but the stubborn visitors stole all three points when defender Rob Jones headed in a towering second-half winner in a thoroughly professional performance from the Championship minnows.

Contentious

Jimmy Kebe had the first effort with a powerful strike from 20 yards but goalkeeper Joe Murphy was able to let it comfortably clear the crossbar, before Kebe again threatened with a header which drifted wide.

But it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the ninth minute from their first attack in contentious circumstances.

A ball over the top was collected wide on the left by Forte and, despite the linesman raising his flag, he crossed for Thompson to convert from close range after just nine minutes.

The Royals' backline had all but stopped upon seeing the flag, and were left incensed when referee Graham overruled his assistant to award the goal.

Brian McDermott's side responded well to the goal, and were level in the 26th minute through Sigurdsson.

The Icelandic midfielder was one of the players to watch in the Championship last season after scoring an impressive 20 goals, and he showed his prowess again with another clinical finish.

Sigurdsson beat two men 25-yards from goal before smashing a strike beyond Murphy and into the top corner.

Jobi McAnuff then dragged an effort across the face of the goal as Reading surged forward but the sides went in to the break on level terms.

Winner

The visitors were keen to see half-time but started the second period well and went ahead through Jones on the hour mark.

Michael O'Connor swung over a corner and 6ft 7in Jones towered over everyone to thump a header past a helpless Adam Federici and into the roof of the net.

Sigurdsson sent a free-kick narrowly over and substitute Simon Church had an effort saved as the Iron held on for all three points.